12/01/01

The Founding Fathers continuously fascinate. Their lives, their decisions, and their reputations continue to inform our view of ourselves as a country. The reputations of these men have entered into history as legendary examples of courage and wisdom.

Recent scholarship has begun to examine the personal lives of these men and make certain judgements about the dichotomous nature of their lives. One of these men is Ben Franklin. Truly a unique and brilliant individual, Franklin has a reputation as statesman, writer, inventor and womanizer. The plump little man with the sparkling wit is reputed to have had many affairs with women on both sides of the Atlantic.

Through the voice of her narrator, author Joyce Snyder explores this reputation. When Professor Carol Byrd attempts to write a feminist critique of Franklin's life, especially in view of his reputation and attitudes to women, she finds a different Franklin than the man she expects to castigate. Furthermore, Franklin begins to appear in her dreams as her research deepens.

Throughout this process, revelations about Byrd's own life are described inviting conclusions about gender, marriage and historical truth. The narrative is presented from Byrd's point of view and recalls her experiences as a woman in the academic world and the determination it takes for her to achieve full professorship. There is a brief flashback to her childhood where she discovers the power of words to hurt and gain power. A short affair with a visiting professor is revealed, along with the affect of the affair on her purposely-childless marriage. Interspersed throughout these pictures of the development of this woman are her conversations and dreams with Ben Franklin. Franklin's historical perceptions and deeply caring words provide an impetus for the professor to take risks with her life and career.

The combination of Franklin's otherworldly wisdom and Byrd's jaded academic viewpoint provide a lot of food for thought. The author presents a fast paced and descriptive novel full of intriguing and thought provoking ideas. While at times a little wordy, the idea of a researcher actually chatting with the object of research is presented in a charming and thought provoking manner. Resisting the temptation to present an historical novel, Snyder keeps the novel firmly in the present tense, making the contrast between modern cynicism and Franklin's otherworldly wisdom noticeable without being obvious.